Plano Blog

Plano schools superintendent discusses possible tax election, state of the district

Superintendent Richard Matkin talks to League of Women Voters of Collin County luncheon about district's progress, possible tax rate election.

Could the school board be planning to bring a tax rate election forward soon?

Seems like the groundwork might be starting as Plano schools Superintendent Richard Matkin discussed the need for additional funding at today’s League of Women Voters of Collin County luncheon today.

Matkin began his speech discussing the accolades of the district — how Plano students far outpace others in the state on college entrance tests and have the highest number of National Merit scholars.

But as the district gets more diverse with a larger percentage of poor students — many of whom start school far behind their peers — it gets more challenging to maintain high levels of academic performance. Just a few years ago, fewer than 10 percent of students were considered economically disadvantaged. Now about 30 percent of students are, with the larger numbers of such children in the lower grades.

“We think we can reach any kid with time and money,” he said

But there’s the challenge. In 2011, the district lost $59 million in “cold, hard cash” that meant laying off about 300 employees, most of the teachers, and cutting programs. The budget deal now being considered in the Legislature wouldn’t come close to making up for that funding loss, he said.

So in the coming weeks, Matkin and trustees will be discussing a possible tax rate election. He noted Wylie, Coppell and Allen have all had such elections.

“If you’re going to have some discretionary money. If you’re going to try and give more to teacher. If you’re going to try and buy down class sizes. If you’re going to try and do all these other things that differentiate you from any other district in the state, you’re going to have to have some additional tax rate dollars,” Matkin said.

He added later, “The only ticket out of poverty or the criminal justice system is education.”

The current maintenance and operating tax rate is the state’s cap of $1.04 per $100 of assessed property value. Voters must approve any increase above that. The district’s debt service rate — which pays for bond programs/construction — is 33.34 cents, bringing the total rate to $1.3734 per $100 of assessed property value.

When asked what types of programs Plano would like to have to help students, Matkin said more reading and math programs as well as early childhood efforts that help get youngsters caught up before kindergarten.

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